Its very simple............................. OIL!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Battlefield Vietnam @ Apr 22 2007, 05:24 AM) [snapback]287911[/snapback]</div>Pretty much the Gospel, I think. But if you look at the US's increasingly aggressive attitude towards Syria and particularly Iran, you can also suspect it has to do with Israel (as a Mid-East watch dog) and who should run the show in the region. Anyone to threaten Israel and Israel's position/power will be subjects to the wrath of the warmongers in Washington.

BTW: Don't give me that goobledygook about peace, democracy and stability in the region. The Western world supported and trained the very same people they later tagged as "terrorists" (a rather cheap tag). It's about control of oil and military/politically power. It's about the Suez and shipping lanes, it's about "friendly nations which will allow forward missile bases" and most probably tons of other reasons. [/rant]

But yes, oil is THE major factor here.

And then what happens when the oil ends? Shall the world start following the same timeline as the Fallout (or Mad Max) universe?

Unjustified (hmm is any war justified, if you attack someone i mean?!), unsuccessful and yes it's still a war.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TheChosen @ Apr 23 2007, 06:02 AM) [snapback]288043[/snapback]</div>Well, probably the world's economy will collapse for a while and then developed countries will go to war for some other energetic resource such as gas, uranium or ground potatoes in order to not have to pay their rightfull owners for it.

Nah people will switch to some other energy source, you already have biodiesel and natural gas and don't worry the reserves of oil are known, so it won't run out all of a sudden, by the time it does it will become so expensive on the market (supply and demand dictates that) that some other resource will be used instead.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TheChosen @ Apr 23 2007, 02:02 PM) [snapback]288043[/snapback]</div>Yeah, then while the bombs fall you will be pounding on the Vault Door begging us to open it.

Which I probably will, just don't mess up the Water Chip!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tulac @ Apr 23 2007, 02:36 PM) [snapback]288124[/snapback]</div>Yeah, the reserves or oil are know. As is the greed of the big oil enterprises. If they don't have prejudices about being a responsible part in wars that cost thousands of lifes in order to maintain their benefits, I doubt they will cooperate in a logic transition between oil and alternative energy resources. They will try to keep their bussiness as long as they can, even if that means a great damage in a near future.

You can think that humans aren't that stupid, but just taking a look at how developed and industrial countries are taking the Kioto protocol, even with all the evidence of an upcoming disaster, I'm not very optimistic.

Why can't the US stay clear of other people's wars?

My guess is they need someone to test all their new weapons on.
War also has something of a stimulating effect on their economy (as long as it doesn't come to their home turf, at least) and the masses always need some sort of bogeyman to give them a better target for hate than their next door neighbour.